Clothespin



March 14, 1939.

KRAYNICK CLOTHESPIN Filed May 1'7, 195'? A-Kr'a 111cm I em Patented Mar. 14, 1939' (UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE cm'rnnsrm a Andras Kraynick, Milwaukee, W s. Application May 1-1, i931, sefiln No. 143,095

P Claim.

This invention appertains to fasteners, and more particularly to an all-metal clip for securing, clothes to a clothes-line against accidental displacement. a

f' One of the primary' objects of my invention is to provide a metallic clothes-pin, which can be quickly and easily applied 'to the clothes-line,.and may be removed therefrom without danger of tearing the clothes in any way, the pin func 1o tioning to tightly grip the clothes, and effectively hold the same on the lineeven in a high wind.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a metallic clothes-pin having a U'-shaped operating and manipulating handle terminating ina pair of flared clothes entrance legs, with a spring steel clip carried by the legs for gripping the clothes, the jaws of the clip being movable away from one another to permit the removal and placing of the clip in position when the legs of the-clip are pressed toward and away from. one another. I

A further important object of my invention is to provide a metallic clothes-pin of the above character, which will be durable and eiflcient in 25 use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which -'can be placed upon the market at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, ,the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is an edge elevation 'of my improved -clothes-pin. T

'Figure-2 is a side elevation of the same, the view also illustrating the manner of gripping and holding the pin in the hand.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail 40 edge elevational view, showing the clip applied to theclothes to be held on the clothes-line, the

clothes-line being shown in section. v

Referring" to' the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corre- 5 vsponding parts throughout the several views, the

letter C generally indicates my improved clothespin, and, as illustrated, the same includes a U- shaped manipulating and operating handle 5. This handle 5 includes a pair of substantially par- I allel legs 6, anda flat connecting bight portion 1.

portions 9, and are then bent inwardly toward one another, as at Ill. The forward ends of the legs terminate in oppositely flared lips II, which a function as a guide for the clothes-line to the restricted portion Ill. The legs'are, preferably, 5 but not necessarily, strengthened by longitudinal- 1y extending struck-out lips II.

It is to be understood that the manipulating and operating handle 5 is formed from a strip of sheet metal, and bent into the desired form;

'Associated with the forward ends of the legs 6 is a metallic clip [3 formed from spring steel.- This clip l3 also includes legs M, the inner ends of which are connected by a substantially circular body portion Hi. The legs M of the clip flare 1 outwardly from the body portion I5, and are curved inwardly, as at I6, to provide clothesgripping jaws. The jaws have formed thereon outwardly flared guide lips H. The clip I3 is placed between the forward ends of the leg 6 with the circular portion lithereof between the arouate portions 9 of the legs, and the tongue I! engaging the. tongues of the legs of the handle.

As illustrated, the extreme forward ends of the tongues H are bent back upon themselves, as at Hi, to form stops for the forwardterminals of the 'clip, and if desired the clip can be spot-welded at this point to the legs of the handle. The arcuate portions 9 of the legs of the handle are adapted to rock upon' the circular body portion I5 as afulcrum, as also will be later set forth. Transversely extending raised ribs I9 are formed on the legs 6, and act as means for pre-.

venting slipping of the fingers of the user on the pin when the pin is being manipulated. The

,bight portion, I of the pin also has struck out therefrom ribs 20, which also'act as means for preventing slipping of .the users finger when placed on said bight portion,

In use of my pin, the clothes, indicated by the 4" reference characteril in Figure3, are hungon a clothes-line 22 in the ordinary manner, after which the legs of the pin are gripped between the thumb and middle finger at a point beyond the curved portions 9, and the index finger is placed on the bight portion 1. Pressure is now exerted on the legs 6, and the legs will tend to rock on the circular portion I 5 and spread the jaws of the clip apart, whereby the-clip can be readily placed on the clothes-line. Pressure is exerted down on the pin by the index finger, so as to facilitate the forcing of the pin on the clothes. When the pin is released, the inherent resiliency of the clip urges the jaws thereof into tight gripping contact with the clothes, so that Y incidental displacement of the clothes from the line will be prevented. When the clip is to be removed, it is merely necessary to again grip aisaeae Changes in details may be made without departing from. the spirit or scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

A resilient metallic clothes-pin comprising a U-shaped handle having a pair of forwardly extending spaced parallel legs, said legs at a point intermediate their ends being provided with arcuate fulcrum portions, an independent substantially U-shaped spring steel clip received between said legs and including a connecting circular portion fitted in the arcuate fulcrum portions, whereby the legs can rock on said connecting circular portion, and outwardly flared lips 'formed on the forward ends of the legs and clip. 

